From the Bottle Collection

Without intent, I have collected well over 1,000 beer bottles since the early 70s. When something finally had to be done about the cheap paneling in this old modular, I had a choice. Tear down the walls while, oh, so carefully, replacing the often rotted 1X3s. Or: cover them with…

The Bottle Collection

Written by Ken Carman

Mediocre picture for a less than mediocre beer. This one’s about middle age-wise in a collection that started in the early 50s. Early 90’s probably. Wild Boar Special Amber wasn’t all that “special at all.” Listed as an Oldenberg product, just south of Cincinnati, OH. Most likely a contract product. I remember it as bland, slightly “amber,” few hops if any and OK carbonation. The Bunny Bread of even craft contract brews.

The problem is I did a tour of the old Oldenberg facility about that time. Nice place. Huge German-style beer hall. The beer: they had three unremarkable taps for samples. I asked the tour guide what they did if someone contracted a Robust Porter, since they didn’t have one, or an IPA, and she proudly announced that they would give the closest brew they had to that style.

Considering the beer I had that day, this beer and other Oldenberg contract beer I’ve had, I believe her. They used to contract brew for McGuires in Pensacola and the product was very unsatisfactory. They told me Oldenberg simply wouldn’t work with them. So the contract was dropped. Only recently did McGuires contract out again, since they don’t have a bottling line. The experience was that bad.

Wild Boar is a restaurant chain. Probably the contract-ee. Apparently the brand has been revived with another, hopefully better contract brewer: Dubuque Star Brewing Co. in Dubuque, Iowa. Being sold at Wild Boars in Atlanta from what I can gather.